Air Fryer Cherry Hand Pies
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Air fryer Cherry Hand Pies taste like summer! Each bite is an explosion of sweet and juicy cherry pie filling wrapped in a flaky golden crust. This hand cherry pie recipe will give you totally drool-worthy results. It’s also made with easy-to-find ingredients… meaning these pies practically make themselves!
Cherry Hand Pies
Fellow pie enthusiasts, if you’re looking for a quick and delicious dessert fix, let me introduce you to the magic of cherry hand pies made in the air fryer!
These little pockets of joy are filled with sweet cherry pie filling, wrapped in a flaky store-bought pie crust, and topped with a homemade quick glaze.
You could go all out and make the crust and filling yourself, but this recipe is all about convenience.
They’re so easy to make… you’ll be indulging in cherry hand pie before you know it!
For more hand pie goodness, don’t miss my s’mores filled option or these mini fried apple pies.
And if cherry-flavored desserts are more your thing, check out these recipes for Cherry Dump Cake and Cherry Cheesecake Cookies!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Pie Crust – Again, if you’re feeling ambitious in the kitchen, feel free to make your own pie crust.
But if you’re too busy to make one yourself, you can absolutely use frozen pie crust from the supermarket.
- Cherry Pie Filling – Using canned cherry pie filling is such a great shortcut. No need to prep and cook any fruit!
- Egg – To create an egg wash that will give you golden-brown results every time.
- Glaze – A simple combo of whole milk and powdered sugar. I like to use whole milk for its higher fat content — it will give you perfectly smooth icing.
You can try it with other types of milk, but it may affect the texture and consistency.
Cherry Hand Pie Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Make sure to preheat your air fryer.
Some air fryer recipes don’t require preheating, but you’ll have to preheat yours to make this cherry hand pie recipe.
When you do, you’ll better ensure even cooking — that delightful golden and flaky crust I keep talking about!
- The egg wash will give you a golden crust, so don’t skip it!
You may be tempted to throw your cherry hand pie directly into the air fryer basket without the egg wash.
While the pies will fry up, you won’t get that gorgeous golden and flaky crust I know you’re after.
- Cut the dough evenly.
You want to work with 1 pie crust at a time to create 5 ½-inch wide circles. I use my handy pastry wheel to make sure I get everything right. You could also use a mini pizza cutter!
Cut carefully so you end up with uniform-sized cherry hand pies. If you find that the dough becomes hard to work with, add a splash of milk!
Storing and Reheating Leftover Hand Cherry Pie
If you and your family don’t eat all six cherry hand pies all in one sitting, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll last for 3-4 days.
Use your air fryer to reheat them! Preheat to 350°F, then air fry the pies for 3-4 minutes, or until they’re heated through.
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Air Fryer – Different brands and sizes may require different cooking times, so be familiar with your model and make adjustments for each recipe as needed.
- Pastry Wheel – This helps make clean, even strips of dough, but a pizza cutter or sharp knife will work in a pinch.
Cherry Hand Pie FAQ
You can, but you (of course) won’t end up with cherry hand pies!
If you do want to switch things up, some other popular hand pie flavors are blueberry, apple, peach, and strawberry.
The first time I made this hand cherry pie recipe, the filling slowly but surely trickled out of the pie crust and got all over my air fryer basket.
I didn’t leave that ½ border of pie crust untouched, and I’ll never make that mistake again! You’ll also want to brush those edges with your egg wash to make sure they hold together.
Yes! I recommend freezing them uncooked for the best results. Simply assemble each cherry hand pie as instructed, then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet to flash freeze them.
Once they’re frozen solid, place in an airtight container. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can air fry directly from frozen!
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other Air Fryer Dessert Recipes
Air Fryer Cherry Hand Pies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 9-inch frozen pie crust, thawed
- 12-18 tablespoons canned cherry pie filling, 3/4 cup – 1 1/8 cup
- 1 large egg, beaten
Glaze
- 1/4 cup icing sugar
- 2 teaspoons whole milk
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 350F.
- Working with 1 pie crust at a time, place on a lightly floured surface and roll out only to flatten (leave the thickness the same). Cut 2 circles from each pie crust 5 ½” wide then blend the excess dough together to create another, repeat (Note: you may want to add a splash of milk to help the left-over dough stick together easier), until you have a total of 6.
- Place 2-3 tablespoons of cherry pie filling (typically about 6-8 cherries are enough with some of the syrup) to the center leaving about 1/2” untouched, and brush those edges with the egg wash, then fold over creating a half moon shape.
- Using a fork, lightly crimp the edges to keep the filling secure, then cut a slit in the top with a sharp knife. Add more egg wash over the top.
- Place in preheated air fryer for 7-8 minutes until the tops are golden brown. (Note: Depending on the size of your air fryer basket you may need to work in batches as you do not want the pies to overlap).
- Remove and place on a wire rack to cool, then enjoy.
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published September 2023
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I just made these, and the apple hand pies, man they were both so good I could never pick a favorite! They will be perfect easy desserts when I have the cravings! Thanks for these wonderful recipes!